The identification of germplasm is an important step for effective utilization of the available germplasm. In previous studies, isoenzyme, RAPD and SSR techniques had been used to conduct the genetic identification of watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mansf.), but their effectiveness was limited due to the extremely narrow genetic background among watermelon genotypes. In this research, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), which was reported as a reliable technique with high efficiency in detecting polymorphism, was used to conduct genetic analysis and variety identification of thirty genotypes of watermelon core collection that represent a wide range of breeding and commercially available germplasm. As a result, a DNA fingerprint based on 15 bands amplified with four primer combinations was developed. In this fingerprint, each genotype has its unique fingerprint pattern and can be distinguished from each other. Furthermore, in or der to facilitate the utilization of AFLP marker in practice, one specific AFLP band of genotype 'PI296341' coming from fragment amplified by primer combination E-AT/M-CAT was successfully converted into a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker.
